Navy Board Exam for applicant Dr. Edward
Kelly 1862
(Biography and exam transcription
courtesy of the Norman L. Herman collection)
I was born the city of St. John, province of New
Brunswick, on the 26th day of August 1836, and I am now 25 years,
7 months, and 12 days old. I came to the United States at the ages 17 and a
citizen of this country.
My classical knowledge is not very extensive,
having in the bustle of life forgotten a great deal; I read the books of
Caesar, Sallust, Virgil, and Horace, and through a part of Xenophon in
Greek, I studied a little of French, but have almost forgotten it not having
to use it.
I finished my preliminary education in the Seminary of
Quebec Canada, I began the study of medicine in 1853, by entering a drug
store as clerk in the city of New York, I remained in the store until the
fall of 1855, when I entered the Medical School of New York, and from this
institution I graduated in March 1857.
During the period of my study in the college, I had
for my preceptor Dr. John Burke of New York, who was also a graduate of the
University of the class of 1849; I attended the hospitals of the city, where
I had it fine opportunity of witnessing operations performed by eminent
Surgeons of New York, as Drs. Wood, Van Buren, Carnochan etc.
I practice medicine in the city of New York, in
company with my preceptor Dr. Burke for about two years, I afterwards
practiced in Brooklyn, until [sic] the excitement attending this war induced
me, to accept a position in a battery, to which I am at present attached.
April 7th 1862
Naval Asylum, Philadelphia
Edward Kelly
297 Degraw St
Brooklyn, N. York
Questions to be answered in writing, by, Dr.
Edward Kelly
1. What is Ophthalmia, and what are its varieties?
2. What are the symptoms of retention + suppression
of urine, and the causes of each?
3. Describe briefly, the umbilical cord, the
mode of cutting and dressing it.
4. [in a different hand] What arteries are situated
in the hand?
5. What are the characteristic properties and
principal chemical combinations of lead?
6. What are the medical properties and uses of
tartarised antimony?
7. Describe the symptoms and causes of Hectic Fever.
8. In aortic regurgitation of the blood which sound
of the heart does the abnormal murmur accompany, and
where is it most distinctly heard?
9. How was Oxalic Acid easily distinguishable from
Sulphate of Magnesia and what is them treatment of its effects?
Answers
1. Ophthalmia is inflammation of the Conjunctiva, it
is divided into simple and purulent or gonorrheal, the former may be caused,
by the action of cold, injuries etc. But the latter is generally the result
of direct contact with purulent matter, as the matter of gonorrhae [sic,
correction marks in pencil].
2. Retention of urine may be caused by spasmodic
stricture of the urethra, by calcului [sic, correction marks in pencil] in
bladder, blocking up its mouth, by paralysis of the bladder, which may be
caused by retaining the urine for a long time, and by calculi in urethrae
[sic]; suppression of urine is caused by Nephritis, calculi lodge in the
ureters, and in some cases by the operation of the passions.
The symptoms of retention are, 1st the hard
tumour felt by pressure with the hand above the pubis, this, if the bladder
be much distended will cause a great deal of pain, the patient’s countenance
wears a look of distress, and he has a small quick pulse; in suppression the
pulse may be full and quick, unless when there are calculi in the ureters,
the patient often feels a desire to pass his water, but when you introduce a
catheter, no water is to be found.
3. The umbilical cord is composed of two arteries and
one vein, it is enveloped by membrane, which is a continuation of the
membrane enveloping the liquor amnii. It is divided at about 3 inches from
the umbilicus, care being taken not to injure the fingers, (or if a boy,)
the penis with the scissors; I had nearly forgotten that it must be tied,
before division; it is to be enveloped in a soft rag that, as evenly as
possible, and laid upon the left side of the child, as the pressure on the
right side might injure the liver.
4. We have in the palm of the hand the arteries
composing the palmar arch, branches of (or rather) terminal branches of the
Radial and Ulnar arteries, the interosseous arteries, and the digital
arteries.
5. Lead is a soft, malleable metal, of a slightly
sweetish and astringent taste used in medicine principally as an astringent
in conjunction with opium, and in solution, as a cooling lotion; its chief
chemical combination is carbon forming carbonate of lead.
6. Tartarised antimony is alterative, emetic, and
rubefacient, in small doses from 1/8 to 1/4 of grain it will afford marked
relief in pleuritic effusions with great dyspnoea; as an emetic it is given
in doses of one or two grains, generally combined with ipecacuanha, as a
rubefacient a drachm to an ounce of adiss [sic, correction marks in pencil]
will produce a crope [sic] of pustules, somewhat resembling variola. It
will also produce relaxation of rigid parts, and for this purpose is often
used in midwifery when the Os Ueteri is very rigid, and was used in reducing
dislocations before the discovery of chloroform.
7. Hectic fever is caused by pus in the blood, which
may be produced by abscesses, injuries as in compound fractures, where the
wound did not heal by the first intention, phlebitis, and the last or
purulent stage of Pneumonia, we see it most commonly in the last stages of
Phthisis.
The patient feels feverish towards evening, restless,
flushed face, the redness is generally confined to a small part of the
cheek, the pulse is small and quick, and at night he sweats profusely, which
leaves him very much weakened and prostrated.
8. The diastole, and is the most distinctly heard, by
applying the stethoscope between the second and third ribs, at their
insertion in the sternum.
9. Oxalic acid may be distinguished from sulphate of
magnesia by the size of its crystals, and by its taste, in poisoning from
this acid, the treatment is to give magnesia, lime, etc.
April 8th 1862
Edward Kelly
At this point, we don't know if or why he
passed or failed. He does not show up in the Navy surgeon's list.
Return to the University of New York Medical College lecture ticket page for
Kelly
